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Roof installed on new Burnley mosque

THE dome on a new mosque in Burnley has been installed, 10 years after work on the building began.

Work on the huge structure, off Burns Street, Daneshouse, started in 2004, but has been hit by delays due to the credit crunch.

So far £2m has been spent on the Shah Jalal Masjid Mosque and Burnley Islamic Cultural Centre, but a further £500,000 is still needed to finish it off.

Mozaquir Ali, a former councillor who has been heavily involved with the development, said: “We first looked at using this land for a mosque in 1993. In 1998, the council gave us permission and work started late in 2004.

“The dome going on the minaret was a very symbolic moment, and is the last phase of work on the outside of the building. Now we are moving inside to complete internal decorations.

“The mosque has been used for Friday prayers since Ramadan last year, and 500 to 700 people attend every week.

“When it is complete it will be a building Burnley can be proud of. It will be a landmark.”